Posted on 01/03/2005 8:18:33 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
Open or Closed Case? Controversial theologian John Sanders on way out at Huntington. By Stan Guthrie | posted 12/22/2004
While John Sanders and the Board of Trustees at Huntington College in Indiana disagree on whether God exhaustively knows the future, they agree that his days as a theology professor at the evangelical school are running out. The issue, according to both Sanders and G. Blair Dowden, the college's president, is not Sanders' belief in open theology, but his notoriety in advocating the doctrine. Both acknowledged that others on the faculty hold the same open theology views.
"You can be an open theist," Sanders told CT. "You just can't be a well-known one. That makes this a very interesting case."
After an executive session of the board was held in October, Dowden told members of the faculty that there "was very little support for John's continued employment at Huntington." Neither Sanders nor Dowden expect him back for the 2005-2006 academic year, which begins next fall. Dowden told ct that while the controversy is "directly related" to open theism, there is no requirement for professors on the issue.
"Not at all," Dowden said. "We have some other faculty who are open theists, but they're not teaching theology or Bible. It's not a litmus test."
Sanders, who has taught at the school of about 1,000 students for seven years, has been a focus of controversy over open theism for the past four years, he said. In November 2003, Sanders narrowly avoided being expelled from the Evangelical Theological Society over his beliefs. Some society members believe open theology violates the society's commitment to scriptural inerrancy.
Huntington removed Sanders from the tenure track over the controversy, but school officials attempted to give him some financial security by signing him to three-year rolling contracts, automatically renewable annually, unless the administration or board says No. In the event Sanders were to be dismissed, he would receive payment for the balance of the contract.
Sanders told ct he expects to be relieved of his position shortly, and that Dowden has "made it clear that my contract will not be renewed after the 2004-5 academic year." Sanders said that he is looking into other teaching positions and research grants, but that he has no other options waiting in the wings right now.
Earlier reports in ct and the Chronicle of Higher Education that Sanders had been "fired" were inaccurate. Dowden, who called Sanders a "brilliant scholar" and "excellent teacher," has been a defender of Sanders.
"John has done everything we have asked of him," Dowden said. But Dowden said that the United Brethren in Christ, which sponsors the school, "finds open theism troubling—some [leaders find it] very troubling."
Dowden added that academic freedom, while important, is not absolute. "For all Christian colleges, academic freedom is bounded in some way."
Sanders said the school is not following its own guidelines. "I do believe that the right to publish and academic freedom statements that the professors actually are working under are being violated," Sanders said. "They are being trodden upon."
Some students at the school are upset. Joni Michaud, a senior history major who is a leader in a student group supporting Sanders, said the controversy is "a case study in academic freedom." The group meets weekly to discuss strategy, has sent letters supporting Sanders to the board, and is seeking to raise awareness among other students. Michaud said the treatment of Sanders violates the school's statements lauding the "benefits of controversy" in an academic setting.
"If Dr. Sanders is indeed fired, I will graduate with a much lowered opinion of the institution," said Michaud, a pre-law major. "I will probably not make any financial contribution, and I will discourage people from attending."
Such talk is no doubt troubling to administrators, who have announced a freeze in tuition rates for the 2005-2006 academic year. Huntington College, to be renamed Huntington University in mid-2005, says the annual U.S.News & World Report survey of colleges consistently ranks it as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the Midwest.
Dowden said the board will next meet January 19-23, and the fate of Sanders could be formally decided then.
[Stan Guthrie is senior associate news editor for Christianity Today]
"(except for Calvinists, who allow little or no room for free will)"
That must be why they have a whole chapter in the Westminster Confession of Faith titled "Free Will"
Chapter 9:
Of Free Will
9:1 God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature determined to good or evil (Deu_30:19; Mat_17:12; Jam_1:14).
9:2 Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good, and well pleasing to God (Gen_1:26; Ecc_7:29); but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it (Gen_2:16, Gen_2:17; Gen_3:6).
9:3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation (Joh_15:5; Rom_5:6; Rom_8:7): so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good (Rom_3:10, Rom_3:12), and dead in sin (Eph_2:1, Eph_2:5; Col_2:13), is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto (Joh_6:44, Joh_6:65; 1Co_2:14; Eph_2:2-5; Tit_3:3-5).
9:4 When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin (Joh_8:34, Joh_8:36; Col_1:13); and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good (Rom_6:18, Rom_6:22; Phi_2:13); yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil (Rom_7:15, Rom_7:18, Rom_7:19, Rom_7:21, Rom_7:23; Gal_5:17).
9:5 The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to do good alone, in the state of glory only (Eph_4:13; Heb_12:23; 1Jo_3:2; Jud_1:24).
So, they did the right thing for the wrong reason.
Oh well, one out of two.
Dan
Since God exists outside our "timeline"; God sees all our events past, present and future at the same time. It's like taking a line ( ____________ ) and turning it so what you see is a dot ( . ) For God, all of our time'line' is but a mere 'point' to Him. So God can see all of our time and events at once. Our past, present and future are all NOW to God. Given this, God can see what we will choose do in the future with our free will, without controlling it. Because to Him, WE HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN IT. Our free will is not impacted by God's knowledge of our choices.
Since God knew of Adam's fall, and He created all of us after that, dead in sin...does this mean that God knows who will be regenerated? If so, why bother with creating those chosen ones, dead in sin?
Nah, the Unitarians have pretty much abandoned belief in even a weak god.
If it were a 'timeplane', then there wouldn't be a dot.
Wouldn't that also mean that the results of my present choice, is someone elses future...and was someone's elses past?
Would you choose to abort a child if you knew he or she would not live up to what you wanted for him or her? God would not.
I don't have a view. I just try to understand the plain meaning of the words without imposing my cultural understanding on it.
Yet God allows them, as He allows all things....if not, wouldn't He stop them?
You don't view it as the truth?
It does not matter if it is a timeline or a timeplane... God exists outside of time and can view it all at once. All of our time is NOW for God. I merely used a line and a point to make... a point. (what, this? This is just a marketing device)
So God saved you because he knew what you would chose and therefore by chosing making you worthy of election. Does that mean you are more worthy than the other guys who God knew wouldn't chose ?
Of course its the truth. Quote me scripture regarding your freewill intepretation. I quoted you scripture where Jesus says we are slaves to sin. As a slave I'm not free, therefore I don't have freedom of will. You apparently believe Jesus is wrong about us being slaves so I ask you, quote me scripture so that I may believe the truth.
You see it exactly as I do - God is "outside" of time and space. That is why he is not bound by any physical laws.
We, as humans, are limited in our understanding to height, width, depth, and linear time.
When I realized that fact, many passages became clear to me:
God "knows the end from the beginning" and "with God all things are possible" among many others.
I this provides a solution to many of the dilemmas we face in trying to understand God's provision for all of humanity.
Isn't that a view?
I cannot quote scripture about free will, because I do not view it as the truth, like you do.
Ignorance is curable with education, but stupid is forever. I'll be happy to give you the benefit of the doubt until I have proof otherwise.
Worthiness has nothing to do with it. Salvation is a free gift offered to ALL. Some will chose to accept it, and others will choose to reject it. Those that accept it are no more worthy than those that reject it. Just like a parent, he loves all of His children... even the ones that He knows will rebel and reject Him. He loves them enough to let them go if they so choose instead of forcing them to be with Him. He loves us enough to give us our own free will even though He has seen what we will do with it. He did not create us to be automatons.
Do you think there is something God doesn't know?
Regeneration is by God's grace alone, ordained by Him from before the foundation of the world.
Trinitarian faith in Jesus Christ is not a requirement for salvation; it is an outward sign of it. We are saved by the merciful grace of God through Christ's redemptive sacrifice, and nothing in ourselves.
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." -- Ephesians 2:1-10.
No.
"What are the ramifications of such a teaching?"
I doubt the impact will be huge. Most anyone who spends much time studying the bible will soon find out it isn't correct. The people who would get lead astray by this would get lead astray by most anything because they are biblically illiterate.
But I wouldn't want to be the one who lead them astray come judgment day.
Excellent contribution!
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